When many people hear the word stewardship, they often think only about money. But biblical stewardship is about so much more. It’s about how we handle everything God has given us—our time, our talents, our money, our relationships, even our influence.
The Bible tells us plainly: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein”(Psalm 24:1, ESV). In other words, everything belongs to God—including us. Nothing we have is truly ours; we’re simply managers, or stewards, of His blessings.
Author Donald Whitney reminds us that stewardship is a spiritual discipline—a regular, intentional practice that helps us grow in our relationship with God. He says it’s not just about giving money or attending church; it’s about offering our whole lives to God and using everything we have in ways that honor Him.
Dallas Willard adds to this by explaining that the goal of the Christian life is to become more like Jesus. Stewardship helps us get there. When we let God guide how we spend our time, how we serve others, and how we use our resources, we are shaping our hearts to be more like Christ’s. Willard puts it this way: “The disciple is one who, intent upon becoming Christ-like, systematically and progressively rearranges his affairs to that end.”
Jesus illustrated this in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30). In the story, a master gives his servants different amounts of money to manage while he’s away. The ones who use it well are praised and rewarded—not just for what they earned, but because they were faithful with what they were given. That’s what God wants from us—not perfection, but faithfulness.
So, stewardship isn’t about guilt or pressure. It’s about gratitude. It’s a way of saying, “God, thank You for all You’ve given me. Help me to use it in a way that pleases You.”
The Apostle Paul put it simply in 1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV): “It is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” As followers of Christ, may we be faithful stewards of all He’s placed in our hands—for His glory and the good of others.
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